Antisoiling garment catcher for ironing boards



A ril 21, 1953 T. v. BAKER 2,635,369

ANTISOILING GARMENT CATCHER FOR IRONING BOARDS Filed Dec. 4, 1950 The/maM Baker HVVENTUR.

Patented Apr. 21 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTISOILING GARMENTCATCHER FOR IRONING BOARDS 4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inanti-soiling shields and garment catchers commonly used, in many andvaried ways, in association with and usually underneath an ironingboard.

The art to which the invention relates is highly developed and quiteactive and reveals numerous styles and types of anti-soiling garmentprotectors. These are referred to as ironing board attachments, shields,baskets, slings, aprons and so on. Broadly, and generally construed,these types of devices employ a fabric, canvas or similar catcher andvarious ways and means whereby same is attached to and suspended by somepart of a folding ironing board construction. The trend of demands inthis line of endeavor may be said to call for and indorse a form ofproector which will fully underlie the ironing board and which willpreferably rest on the floor in a manner to prevent draping sheets andarticles of bedclothing, tablecloths and other large articles fromhanging down in soiling contact with the floor or other surface duringthe act of ironing. In fact, certain cot-like protectors have beenevolved and used by others.

It is an object of the instant invention to structurally, functionallyand otherwise improve upon known prior art anti-soiling protectors and,in so doing, to provide an acceptable and satisfactory construction inwhich manufacturers, users and others will find their essential needsfully met, contained and effectually available.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-soiling garmentcatcher and protector in the field stated wherein a simple apron isemployed, said apron being provided at corner portions with flexibletying elements and the latter being tied to suitable keepers providedtherefor on a framework which underlies and supports the apron.

Another object of the invention is to provide a framework and apronassembly wherein both the apron and framework are constructed to permita portion of a supporting leg of the ironing board frame to haveunobstructed bearing contact with the floor.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on an apertured piece of canvasor the like providing a suitable apron, the same being rectangular,provided at corner portions with flexible ties and said ties beingconnected with suitable keepers on the end portions of a substantiallyX-shaped framework, the latter being collapsible and foldable intocompact form for convenient storage, when not in use.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying sheet of illustrativedrawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed todesignate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional type folding ironingboard construction and the folding cot-like anti-soiling garment catcherconstructed in accordance with the invention and showing the manner inwhich it is used in conjunction with the ironing board construction;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the framework per se in its open orexpanded ready-touse form;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view showing the manner in which thesections or frames of the over-all framework are folded for compact andconvenient storage; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section on the plane ofthe line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the complete assemblage illustrated in Figure 1, thenumeral 6 denotes the ironing board construction on the one hand, whilethe numeral 8 denotes the cot-type garment catcher on the other hand.The construction 5, of course, constitutes no part of the invention butperhaps may be best described, somewhat briefly, as embodying legsill-l0 supporting one end of the ironing board l2, converging bracesH5l4 joined with the legs and the ironing board, and a V-type front legunit it; provided with stays l8-I8.

The anti-soiling garment catcher is characterized chiefly by two maincomponents; namely, a so-called collapsible X-shaped framework and anapron detachably tied thereon. The framework is actually made up of fourcomplemental generally rectangular frames. There are two short frames 20and 22 and two relatively long frames 24 and 26. Each frame is ofgeneral rectangular form although it will be noticed that the innervertical end portions are appreciably narrower than the outer verticalend portionsl It follows that the narrower ends of the respective framesconverge toward the hub area at which point a special linking clamp 28is provided. The clamp comprises a pair of flat plates 30 and 32 whichare shown in Figure 4 are bolted together at 34 and retained by afastening nut 36. The plates have semi-circular bends 3838 atcorresponding ends and similar bends 4040 at opposite correspondingends. These bends are opposed and provide suitable bearings for thevertically disposed journal portions 42-42 and 44-44 of the respectiveframes 20 to 26 inclusive. Thus, the over-all framework is of generalX-shape form as best shown in Figure 2 and the X is actually made up oftwo pairs of relatively long and short companion frames. "I'he'latterare of general rectangular outlineand the'inner narrower'ends areclamped and hinged together to render said frames collapsible orfoldable, as brought out in the compact drawing of same in Figure 3. Inorder to fold the frames. the two frames 24 and ZB are swung toward eachother as denoted as by the arrows A--A. The shorter frames 'are'swungaway from each other in :the: direction of the arrows B and C and arefolded against the collapsed frames 24 and 26 as is obvious. Figure 2therefore shows the X-frame expanded and ready .ifor'use andFigure 3 theframes in folded posi- -.tions "wherein the'over-all device is ready'tostore away. 1 It'will be noticed that by tapering the frames orgradually narrowing'same in width from their outer toward their innerclamped ends,

.the outer cornerportions of the respective frames, all denoted by thenumerals'45, function as feet :andthe latter bear in a limited contactmanner on the floor ;or: other support. The upper corner .portions 38 ofall of theframes are provided with -;diagonal suitably fastened stripmembers 50 fdefiningarseries'of 'four. so-called keepers. The .lowerlimbsrf52 of all of'the. frames slant upwardly and inwardly toward thehub portion or clampandtheselimbs thus clear the floor to pre----vent=direct wiping :or rubbing contact with the floor and they alsodefine the aforementioned feet 46. The;upper. limbs, while lessimportant, .aredenoted bythe'numerals 54 and these limbs, by taperinginwardly and downwardly permit the canvas or equivalent-apron to sinkslightly at the center. The apron is of general recatangular form. and.has a marginal binding 58. The corner portions are provided withvsuitable ties wand all oftheseties are separably con- .nected with thecorner keepers on the framework. .Thereis an opening at G2 with amarginal bind- :ing 64. which opening accommodates the adjacent endportion1ofthe legframe IS.

in. use, the apron is .taut and spam and over- .lies. theiramework and:is connected thereto by theties 80 in. the; manner. shown. The ties .maybe unfastened inan obvious manner, the apron rolled up and theframecollapsed and folded up andthepartsput away in limited storage quartersin an obvious manner.

Acareful consideration ofithe: foregoing description in conjunctionwithxtheinventiorr as illustrated inthedrawings will enable the readerto obtain a clear. understanding and impression of-thealleged features.ofzmeritxand novelty suflicient'to-Jclarify the construction of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

-Minorchanges in'shape, size,i. materials and rearrangement of .parts.mayibe resorted to inactual' practice so longas noideparture is madefrom the invention 7 as claimed.

I Having described the invention, what is claimed asnew is:

1. An anti-soiling garment catcher of the class described comprising anapron and a framework ship opposed to each. other and connected at.their. inner ends to the opposite end of said clamp, the respectivepairs of frames being disposed in ing adapted to receive the front legof an ironing board, and an X-shaped framework for supporting saidapron, said framework being made .up of pairs of converging relativelylong and short individual frames, the inner converging end portions ofthe respective pairs of frames being in-close proximity, and hinging andclamping means securingsaid inner end portions together, said framesbeing wide at their outer ends and narrow at their ends and said outerends having keepers, said apron being provided with tie elements adaptedto. be connected with. said keepers when the apron is .used incombination with said frame work.

3. A folding frame adapted to support an antisoiling garment catcherapron comprising a hingingand coupling clamp, a pair of relatively shortframes disposed in opposable relationshipv and having their respectiveinner ends hingedly connected with one end of said clamp, acomplemental1 pair of longer frames disposed in a relationconvergingrelationship in respect to each other .and the convergingendsbeingdirected toward 2 said clamp.

4.. A folding frame adapted to support an antisoiling garment catcherapron comprising a hinging and coupling clamp, a pair of relativelyshort frames disposed in opposable relationship and havingtheirrespective inner ends hingedly connected with one end of said. clamp, a.com- .plemental pair of longer frames disposed in a relationship opposedto each other and connected at their inner ends to the opposite end ofsaid clamp, the respective pairs of framesbeing disposed in convergingrelationship in respect to each other. and the converging ends being.directed toward said clamp, said frames being relatively wide at theirouter ends and narrower-atltheir inner ends, and an anti-soiling apronadapted-to be spread over said framework when the latter is in positionfor use, said apronhaving ties at its respective corner portionsadaptedto be. detachably tied toithe outer ends of the respective framesand said apron being provided at one end with an opening which isadapted for passage of a supporting leg on an ironing board,

said-opening being adapted to be disposed centrally between the framesof the coacting pair of frames.

THELMA V. BAKER.

References Cited in the' file. of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 579,842 Rupert Mar. 30, 1897 1,192,225 Rand July 25,1916 1,278,072 Ossry Sept. 3, 1918 2,486,628 Baker Nov. 1, 1949

